Local
Offshore nor’easter may bring gusty winds and showers to Cape and Islands
Massachusetts is expected to stay on the edge of a powerful Atlantic storm, with coastal gusts reaching 40 mph Wednesday and the best chance of showers arriving Thursday. Forecasters say rough seas could persist through the week as the storm moves toward the Canadian Maritimes.
A powerful storm churning in the western Atlantic is expected to bring Massachusetts mostly fringe effects this week, though coastal communities should prepare for gusty winds and rough seas.
As of Tuesday, Oct. 20, the storm was producing thunderstorms, winds near 60 mph and high seas offshore. The National Hurricane Center gave it a 40% chance of developing into a subtropical storm over the next few days.
Forecast guidance keeps the system far enough offshore to limit its effects in the state. Gusts could reach 40 mph Wednesday along the coast, Cape Cod and the Islands, while rough seas are expected to continue through the rest of the week.
Rain remains uncertain. Showers could move in from the east Thursday, with the greatest chance on the Cape and Islands. It is unclear whether rain will reach the South Shore, and forecasters expect it to stay south of areas farther north.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 60 degrees Tuesday, fall into the low 50s Wednesday and return to the low 60s Thursday. Winds are expected to ease Thursday morning, then could strengthen again Thursday night and early Friday as a cold front pushes the storm east toward the Maritimes.
Colder weather is expected into the weekend, followed by more sunshine early next week. The storm could bring snow to parts of the Maritimes over the weekend, but the forecast does not call for that snow to reach Massachusetts.